Table centerpiece



June 30, 1959 Filed July 2, 1956 v. T. HOEFLICHY TABLE CENTERPIECE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T 1i; E.

. INVENTOR.

June 30 1959 v. T. HOEFLICH TABLE! CENTERPIECEJ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1956 FIG.|O

IN VEN TOR VICTO R T- HOEFL ICH ATTORNEY-.5

States Patent 2,892,278 TABLE CENTERPIECE Victor T. Hoeflich, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Application July 2, 1956, Serial No. 595,528

4 Claims. (Cl. 41-10) This application is a continuation-in-part of my parent application Serial No. 352,663 filed May 4, 1953, entitled Table Centerpiece and now abandoned.

This invention rel ates to table centerpieces.

The primary object of .the present invention is to generally improve table centerpieces, particularly gaily ornamental centerpieces made of pa'perand intended for parties and like occasions. A further object is to devise such centerpieces which will be inexpensive to manufacture, yet attractive and relatively expensive in appearance.

A more particular object is to provide a centerpiece which will fold up fiat, so that it will be compact and not subject to damage during shipment or storage, and yet which may be quickly and easily set up ready for use.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the table centerpiece elements, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a table centerpiece embodying features of my invention with the centerpiece folded to fiat condition;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of theline 33 of Fig. 1, but with the figure turned to upright position;

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the relation of the parts when the upright figure is turned down fiat against the base for storage or shipment;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified table centerpiece;

Fig; 6 is a section taken approximately in the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the manner in which the base is slit;

Fig.8 is a front elevation of another modification;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the same when turned down flat against the base;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 11-11 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan vieW drawn to enlarged scale, and showing a detail.

Referring to the drawing, the table centerpiece comprises a base B and a generally upright figure generally designated F. In Figs. l-4 the figure F simulates a bridesmaid. In Figs. 5 and 6 the figure F simulates a cowboy. It will be understood that any desired simulation may be employed, and that the figure is preferably a cut-out stamped out of a suitable paperboard which may, if desired, have a metal foil or metallized finish. The figure consists of two flat parts joined at the top as shown at 12 (Fig. 3), and separable or spread apart at the bottom 2 as shown at 14. The two parts are preferably two mating or like figures which are mirror images of one another. In other words, if a metal foil finish is employed, that finish appears at the outside in each case. This is readily done by stamping the second half of a large sheet, in inverted position relative to the first half.

The base is provided with spaced and preferably parallel slits as shown at 16 and 18 in Fig. 7. These slits are preferably continued transversely for a short distance at the ends, as shown at 20, thus facilitating a slight relative upward and downward bending of the lips of the slit, as is later described.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the right hand part 22 of the figure has a tongue 24 formed at its lower end, and this passes through slit 16, and is bent sidewardly beneath the base, and is there secured to the .base, as by means of a staple 26. A tongue 28 is formed at the lower end of the other part 30 of the figure, and passes through slit 18 and is turned outwardly as shown. This tongue 28 is slidable through slit 18 relative to the base, so that the upright figure may be folded flat against the base, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tongue 23 is preferably made longer than the spacing between the slits 16 and 18, so that when the upright figure is folded flat against the base the slidable tongue 28 is drawn only partway out of its receptive slit 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. It will be understood thatto set the figure up ready for use it is merely necessary to turn it upward, and in most cases the tongue 28 will slide outward tothe position shown in Fig. 3, but if not, the part 30 of the figure may be pushed away from the part 22 near the base, thereby spreading the figure to assume its desired stable, upright position.

The base shown in Figs. 1-4 includes superposed upper and lower members 32 and 34, with the tongues 24 and 28 received therebetween. The parts 32 and 34, like the parts 22 and 30, may be made of a suitable paper-board. The upper and lower parts are secured togetherat their periphery, as indicated by the staples 36, 38, 40 and 41,- four such staples being ample. Fastenings in the middle of the base are preferably avoided, except for the staple 26 previously referred to, which staple serves the main purpose of anchoring the tongue 24 in position.

In Figs. 1-4 the base is enlarged, ornamented and completed by a ring of pleated crepe paper 42 which surrounds the paperboard pieces 32 and-34. The crepe paper is preferably pleated by stitching the same at its inner edge, and the inner edge'may be held between and concealed by the paperboard pieces 32 and 34-. In the specific case here shown the inner edge is stitched to the bottom piece 34, and thereafter the bottom piece a i d the crepe paper border 42, are secured to thetop piece 32 by means of the four staples 36, 38, 40, 41.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification of the invention in which the base is simplified by omitting the bottom member 34 shown in Fig. 3. There is a top member 50 which may be the same as the top member 32 previously described, and which has spaced slits 52 and 54, like the slits 16 and 18. The cowboy figure has mating and preferably matchingparts 56 and 58 which are joined at the top portion 60. The lower end of the part 56 has a tongue 62 which 'passes through slit 52 and is turned sidewardly and secured in position, as by means of glue' or a staple '64. The part 58 has a tongue 66 which passes through the slit 54 and is turned outwardly as shown. The tongue 66 is not fastened to the base 50. When the figure is folded to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, it foldsfiat against the base 50, and the tongue 66 is partially withdrawn through the slit 54. Here again the tongue is preferably made longer than the spacing between the slits 52 and 54, so that it does not escape from the slit.

To set up the figure it is simply turned upright, and the tongue 66 moves outward to the position shown in Fig. 6. If desired, it then may be secured in outward position by the user, as by passing a staple through the tongue and base, or by applying some glue therebetween, or by applying a piece of adhesive tape therebeneath in contact with both the tongue and the bottom.

As before, the base may be enlarged and beautified by a skirt or peripheral area of pleated crepe paper. This is shown at 68, and may be formed by stitching the inner edge of the crepe paper to pleat the same and bring it into. curved or circular formation. The inner edge is then secured to the bottom periphery of the base 50, as by the use of glue, or a few peripheral staples or, if desired, by stitching. In this case, however, the stitching would be exposed rather than concealed. It will be recalled that in the first form of the invention shown in Figs. l-4 the crepe paper is stitched to the lower part 34 of the base, and not to the upper part 32, and consequently the latter conceals the stitching.

Reverting now to Figs. 4 and 7 it will be seen that the transverse slits 20 (Fig. 7) at the ends of the main slit l8 facilitate some upward and downward bending of the lips of the main slit. Thus in Fig. 4 it will be seen that the outer lip is bent upward, and the inner lip is bent downward, thereby better accommodating the tongue 28 during the desired sliding movement. Of course, these lips tend to return to their original common plane, and this helps lock the figure in upright position without any additional fastening means, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Conversely, when the figure is folded over, the tongue must first relatively and oppositely displace the lips of the slit, before it can begin to slide.

It will be understood that while I have shown each of the die-cut halves of the centerpiece provided with one tongue, either half or both halves may be provided with more than one tongue, and in such case the mating slits will be appropriately modified to receive the tongues. Thus in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the figure has spread legs, two tongues may be provided on each die-cut half of the figure, one tongue at the lower end of each leg. In such case the radius of the circular base should be made large enough to provide room to receive the tongues. In the specific centerpiece shown in Figs. 5 and 6 there is only one tongue on each side, and the space between the legs is filled in by a small amount of background scenery, as shown in Fig. 5. The single tongue on each side is formed at this center region, the tongues therefore being located the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Referring now to another form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 through 12, the table centerpiece again comprises a base B and a figure F, which in this case simulates a turkey. The main difference in this form of the invention is that the base is itself provided with means for locking the figure in upright position, thus dispensing with the need for an additional staple, glue, Scotch tape or the like.

As in the case of Fig. 1, the base B comprises superposed upper and lower members 72 and 74 which are made of relatively stifi fiat cardboard to provide a fiat base. Again the base is preferably enlarged and ornamented by a ring of pleated crepe paper 76 which surrounds the cardboard pieces 72 and 74. The crepe paper is initially pleated and stitched to the bottom piece 74, and its inner edge as well as the stitching 77 is thereafter concealed by the top piece 72, which may be secured by four tiny staples 78 (Fig. 9).

The figure F is made of separable sides 80 and 82, the upper portions of which are secured together, as by the use of a pair of inconspicuous staples 84. As here illustrated, each side is made of one piece of cardboard,

ill

but in practice I have heightened the realism of the figure by making each side of several pieces of somewhat difierently colored cardboard which are so slit and interfitted that one piece is exposed over certain areas, and the other piece over the remaining areas. However, even in such case only one of the pieces on each side is extended all the way to the bottom and bent to form a tongue, and thus the said elaborated structure in no way alters the structure of that part of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 12, the top member 72 of the base has spaced-apart parallel slits 86 and 88 as previously described, and these may be enlarged slightly at the ends by short transverse slits, as indicated at 90. The area between the slits is transversely severed at 92, thus providing tabs 94 and 96 which may be bent on the dotted fold lines 98. Thus the tabs may be turned up from horizontal to vertical position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11, thereby holding thesides and 82 in spread-apart position. In Fig. 8 the lower part of the side 80 has been cut away to expose the tab 96, which in fact is concealed, as is the tab 94 shown in broken lines.

In order to facilitate pushing the locking tabs 94 and 96 upward, the bottom member 74 of the base is preferably windowed or cut away beneath the tabs, as indicated at 100 in Fig. 9. This exposes the tabs so that they are readily pushed upward from beneath after the figure has been turned to erect position with the sides spread apart.

As before, one of the sides, in this case the side 82, has a tongue 102 which is permanently secured in position, as by a staple 104. The other side 80 has a tongue 106 which is received between the top and bottom pieces 72 and 74 of the base, and which is long enough to remain therebetween, as shown in Fig. 10, when the figure F is folded down flat against the base B. To set the figure up it is merely necessary to turn it upward, and in most cases the tongue 106 will slide outward automatically, but if not, the sides may be pushed apart and thereupon the locking tabs 94, 96 are turned upward from beneath. They fit rather tightly at their upper ends between the converging sides 80 and 82 of the figure, and thus the entire device remains dependably erect.

It will be understood that the tabs 94, 96 may be formed in and then pushed upward from the bottom member 74 of the base, instead of from the top member 72. In such case the area of the top member between the slits 86, 88 (Fig. 12) is preferably cut away, and the bottom member of the base is provided with a similarly spaced pair of slits like the slits 86, 88 and with a crosscut like the cross cut 92, in order to form a pair of tabs which may be pushed upward from the bottom member between the sides 80 and 82 of the upright figure.

It is believed that the construction and method of use, as well as the advantages of my improved table centerpiece, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structures shown without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A figure display device, primarily for use as a table centerpiece, comprising a fiat non-folding base having spaced slits cut therethrough, a generally upright figure consisting of two flat parts joined at the top and separable at the bottom, a tongue formed at the lower end of one of said parts passing through one of said slits and bent sidewardly nearly beneath the base and secured to said base, a tongue formed at the lower end of the other of said parts and passing through a slit spaced from the first slit and turned outwardly nearly 90, said tongue being slidable relative to the base and being longer than the spacing between the two slits, whereby the upright figure may be folded flat against the flat base without folding the base, with the slidable tongue then being drawn partway but not wholly out of its receptive slit, the area of the base between said spaced slits being divided intermediate its ends by a cut transverse to the spaced slits and connecting said spaced slits in order to provide a pair of tabs which may be bent upward between the two parts of the upright figure to hold them in spreadapart erect position.

2. A figure display device intended for use as a table centerpiece comprising a flat non-folding base made up of flat superposed members, the upper member of said base having spaced parallel slits cut therethrough, a generally upright figure consisting of two like figures joined at the top and separable at the bottom, a broad tongue formed at the lower end of one of said figures passing through one of said slits and bent sidewardly nearly 90 between the upper and lower member of the base and secured to said base, a broad tongue formed at the lower end of the other of said figures and passing through a slit spaced from the first slit and turned outwardly nearly 90, said tongue being slidable relative to the base and being longer than the spacing between the two slits, whereby the upright figure may be folded flat against the base without folding the base, with the slidable tongue then being drawn partway but not wholly out of its receptive slit, the aforesaid tongues being received directly between and parallel to the superposed members, the area of the upper member of the base between said spaced slits being divided intermediate its ends by a cut transverse to the spaced slits and connecting said spaced slits in order to provide a pair of tabs which may be bent upward between the two parts of the upright figure to hold them in spread-apart erect position.

3. A figure display device intended for use as a table centerpiece comprising a flat non-folding base made up of flat superposed members, the upper member of said base having spaced parallel slits cut therethrough, a generally upright figure consisting of two like figures joined at the top and separable at the bottom, a broad tongue formed at the lower end of one of said figures passing through one of said slits and bent sidewardly nearly 90 between the upper and lower member of the base and secured to said base, a broad tongue formed at the lower end of the other of said figures and passing through a slit spaced from the first slit and turned outwardly nearly 90", said tongue being slidable relative to the base and being longer than the spacing between the two slits, whereby the upright figure may be folded flat against the base without folding the base, with the slidable tongue then being drawn partway but not wholly out of its receptive slit, the aforesaid tongues being received directly between and parallel to the superposed members, the area of the upper member of the base between said spaced slits being divided intermediate its ends by a cut transverse to the spaced slits and connecting said spaced slits in order to provide a pair of tabs which may be bent upward between the two parts of the upright figure to hold them in spread-apart erect position, the lower member of said base being cut away beneath said tabs to provide access thereto in order to facilitate bending the same upward.

4. A figure display device intended for use as a table centerpiece, comprising a fiat non-folding base made up of flat superposed members, a generally upright figure consisting of two like figure sides joined at the top and separable at the bottom, the upper member of said base being slotted, a broad tongue formed at the lower end of one of said sides passing through the slotted part of the upper member and bent sidewardly nearly and received between the upper and lower members of the base, said tongue being secured to said base, a broad tongue formed at the lower end of the other of said sides and passing through said slotted portion of the upper member and turned outwardly nearly 90 and received between the upper and lower members of the base, said tongue being slidable between said members of the base and being longer than the spacing apart of the upright sides when spread apart to the limits of the slotted portion of the base, whereby the upright figure may be folded flat against the base without folding the base, with the slidable tongue then being drawn partway but not wholly out of its position between the upper and lower members, the area of one of said members of the base between said spread-apart upright sides being cut to form tabs which may be bent upward between the two sides of the upright figure to hold them in spread-apart erect position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

